Next up in the OKC Thunder trade deadline series T.I. looks at the Detroit Pistons who are struggling to make their existing core function with success.
Trade deadline day is here and with it, the OKC Thunder and Sam Presti will gauge the market to see who the team might obtain to add value and depth to their roster.
This year we’re witnessing something new at the trade deadline — teams are making moves well ahead of the deadline! Last season there were a couple of pre-deadline deals but this season numerous squads are making moves. Already, there have been virtually as many trades as there was last season (12) on trade deadline day in 2018. Eight trades occured on February 6th and since the turn of the calendar to Februrary 11 trades have been made. This speaks to teams who want to make sure they get their man, fix their salary situation or make moves for the future.
In the case of the Pistons they were among the teams who made early deals and with that they removed both of my targets. Like I stated in the Chicago Bulls primer I’m not going to pick players just for the sake of the exercise. Particularly when I don’t envision any of the Pistons assets helping the Thunder or not costing an arm and a leg to obtain.
OFFICIAL: The Pistons have acquired Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and a future second-round draft pick from the L.A. Lakers in exchange for Reggie Bullock.
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) February 6, 2019
Welcome to the squad, Svi! #DetroitBasketball pic.twitter.com/D110r9HVa1
Obviously, the Pistons will want to build around Blake Griffin, but there are major fit issues in Detroit which requires them to address their big three of Griffin, Andre Drummond, and Reggie Jackson. The OKC Thunder are not going to want to look at either of the latter two players and as mentioned there aren’t other players (outside of Johnson or Bullock) who were players I’d suggest Sam Presti target.
The trades which occurred saw Stanley Johnson head to the Milwaukee Bucks and Reggie Bullock move to the Lakers.